Yesterday, I had some praise and worship music blasting in the house while I was cleaning. The front door was open since it was sunny. Emma (one of my daughters with special needs who cannot walk) was sitting in the doorway, dancing and really getting into the music. Suddenly she stopped and called for me. With great excitement, she bubbled to me that she had yelled "I LOVE JESUS!" out the door at the top of her lungs so the neighbors would hear. I told her that was wonderful.
A few seconds later, she called me again. She was sitting on the couch and had a "I need to have a serious chat with you" look on her face. I sat down next to her and asked what was on her mind. "Does God answer our prayers?" she asked. "Yes," I told her. I was about to explain how sometimes God answers "yes" and sometimes he answers "no" but I noticed she had her eyes tightly shut and was clasping her hands together in deep, heart felt prayer. Suddenly she sprang from the couch, attempted to take a very large step (all in pure confidence) and landed flat on her bottom. I was startled, having no time to catch her, and asked her if she was alright. She looked very emotionally hurt and confused, but not physically hurt in any way. I knew the look without her even having to explain: What in the world went wrong?
I have often asked myself the same question as I cried out to God in a complete surrender of faith. Why won't he give me my heart's desire? It is during those times I think back about how close I have become to God through trials and how the pain I feel about my children's health has drawn others toward the cross. These things are deep and hard to explain to a sweet girl who's faith is undiluted by age and the world. My prayer for all my children is that God will give them the ability to take "no" for an answer. Even though it hurts and even though we don't understand, God has us in his hands and knows what's best for our lives. "No" may be just the answer we don't realize we need to hear for our lives to be everything we want them to be. No matter what storms we go through, in Christ everything has a purpose and a plan.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. --Jeremiah 29:11
A few seconds later, she called me again. She was sitting on the couch and had a "I need to have a serious chat with you" look on her face. I sat down next to her and asked what was on her mind. "Does God answer our prayers?" she asked. "Yes," I told her. I was about to explain how sometimes God answers "yes" and sometimes he answers "no" but I noticed she had her eyes tightly shut and was clasping her hands together in deep, heart felt prayer. Suddenly she sprang from the couch, attempted to take a very large step (all in pure confidence) and landed flat on her bottom. I was startled, having no time to catch her, and asked her if she was alright. She looked very emotionally hurt and confused, but not physically hurt in any way. I knew the look without her even having to explain: What in the world went wrong?
I have often asked myself the same question as I cried out to God in a complete surrender of faith. Why won't he give me my heart's desire? It is during those times I think back about how close I have become to God through trials and how the pain I feel about my children's health has drawn others toward the cross. These things are deep and hard to explain to a sweet girl who's faith is undiluted by age and the world. My prayer for all my children is that God will give them the ability to take "no" for an answer. Even though it hurts and even though we don't understand, God has us in his hands and knows what's best for our lives. "No" may be just the answer we don't realize we need to hear for our lives to be everything we want them to be. No matter what storms we go through, in Christ everything has a purpose and a plan.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. --Jeremiah 29:11